Aquaculture is Agriculture

An Open Letter from Canada's Seafood Farmers to Provincial and Territorial Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers

Click here to download the letter to the Ministers (PDF: 210KB)

May 20, 2025

To: Federal and Provincial Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries

Dear Ministers:

On behalf of Canada’s seafood farming community, we thank you for your work and your commitment to your provinces and to Canada. As leaders in the aquaculture sector, we commit ourselves to working with you to create lasting value and flourishing communities through our sector across Canada.

The future of seafood development in Canada and across the world is dependent on human ingenuity to find new ways to responsibly create value from our oceans, to innovate to produce more, secure and affordable seafood to support Canadians and the world.

We have a special responsibility in Canada with some of the greatest biophysical capacity on the planet. With highly skilled people, and many coastal communities waiting for new opportunities and renewal, precision farming of our waters is a unique blessing for Canada.

It is time to move beyond Canada’s mediocre performance. For over twenty years Canada has flatlined in aquaculture production growth while using only a small fragment of our potential. We need a new vision and government leadership to support us to the next level of production and excellence in aquaculture production. You are the leaders that can and must be bold to achieve this.

We ask you to undertake a pathway that allows for a new approach to aquaculture development in Canada. We propose the following areas of action to you as the foundations for a new springtime in seafood development and coastal community revitalization.

1) Science Must Be the Foundation

Science must be re-established as foundational for aquaculture development. A re-commitment to objective scientific advice as the foundation for policy decisions is necessary. All human activity has some degree of environmental risk, and there is no such thing as zero risk. Putting off economic development risks the health of people, families and communities. Governments must be clear on acceptable levels of environmental risk to make predictable and reasonable decisions for project development.

2) The BC “Open Net Pen” Ban Must Be Removed

The 2024 federal decision to ban salmon farming net pens by 2029 is scientifically, economically and technologically irresponsible. It has cast an investment chill on all of Canada and we are seeing its negative influence around the world. As salmon farming investment decisions in BC for 2029 are approaching quickly, the ban must be removed urgently in favour of a clear performance-based pathway that establishes stabilization, future growth and attracts investment in innovation and new technologies.

3) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Must be the Federal Aquaculture Champion

DFO is a regulator and habitat protector. It is not equipped to support a modern, growth-oriented farming sector. It is time for a change. AAFC must be named the lead federal department for sector development, while DFO and CFIA continue to be regulators of the sector. Aquaculture must finally be included in federal legislation as a farming activity consistent with international definitions.

4) Modernize Shellfish Sector Management and Risk Supports

The shellfish aquaculture sector holds significant economic, environmental, and food security potential across Canada. However, its growth is constrained by outdated federal oversight, particularly under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP), and by the sector’s exclusion from essential risk management tools available to other forms of food production. A modernized approach is needed — one that ensures effective, coordinated delivery of public health protections while also enabling access to government-industry programs that provide stability and resilience for producers.

To move this forward, we request federal support for a pilot crop insurance program for shellfish aquaculture in Prince Edward Island, with the goal of informing a national approach to business risk management program access for shellfish farmers in all producing provinces.

We ask you: provide a positive signal that aquaculture is an important part of Canada’s future and together begin building a united vision for this future.

For our part, we will increase our efforts to build public trust and constantly improve our practices.

We can together build a sector that leads the world with job creation, skilled workers, Indigenous economic and reconciliation opportunities, low-carbon, healthy and affordable home-grown protein production, and renewed coastal communities.

This is an exciting time and challenge. The time is now for positive and lasting change to benefit your provinces and all of Canada.

Sincerely,

Timothy J. Kennedy, President & CEO, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Keith Currie, President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture

Keith Sullivan, Executive Director, NL Aquaculture Industry Association

Peter Warris, Executive Director, PEI Aquaculture Alliance

Jeff Bishop, Executive Director, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia

Tom Taylor, Executive Director, Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association

RJ Taylor, Managing Director, Ontario Aquaculture Association

Brian Kingzett, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association

Nico Prins, Executive Director, BC Shellfish Growers Association

OTTAWA, ON (MAY 13, 2025)  On behalf of Canada’s seafood farming community, we congratulate Prime Minister Carney on his new Cabinet.

A renewed focused on economic development across Canada is very welcome. In particular, we look forward to working with the new Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Hon. Heath MacDonald, as well as the Minister of Fisheries, the Hon. Joanne Thompson.

Canada has the most cold-water aquaculture potential in the world. With highly skilled people, and many coastal communities waiting for new opportunities and renewal, precision farming of our waters is a unique opportunity for Canada.

For over twenty years Canada has flatlined in aquaculture production growth while using only a small fragment of our biophysical potential. Canada needs a new vision for aquaculture development and renewed government leadership to get Canada to the next level of production and excellence in aquaculture production.

A new vision and framework for growth will result in new investment, job creation, coastal community renewal, Indigenous economic and leadership opportunity, new innovations and technologies, and healthy, secure and more affordable home-grown food for Canadians.

The aquaculture community in Canada is ambitious and wants to get to work to build a strong and flourishing aquaculture sector as part of a stronger Canada.

About Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. CAIA members generate over $5.3 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and employ over 17,550 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada. www.aquaculture.ca

2024 report highlights bold moves by the Canadian Salmon Farming Industry for a greener tomorrow

OTTAWA, ON - The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is proud to announce the release of its first-ever Sustainability Report for the Canadian salmon farming sector, highlighting the industry's commitment to delivering the world’s most sustainable, safest and best quality salmon. This report delivers the real goods on the Canadian salmon farming sector’s commitment to sustainability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

The 2024 report covers data from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, marking the beginning of CAIA’s sustainability disclosure journey. Centred around seven national, industry-wide commitments for salmon farming, the report includes benchmark results for the year. It outlines our key actions and targets in the seven identified priority areas: fish health, climate change, sustainable feed, food security, food traceability, ocean health, and public reporting.

"Our goal is to be nothing less than the most sustainable animal protein product in the world, and this report is a crucial tool in building that knowledge across Canada," said Timothy J. Kennedy, President and CEO of CAIA. "As the first annual report for the Canadian salmon farming sector's national Performance Commitments, this document is the product of extensive collaboration across the sector."

Key Highlights of the 2024 Sustainability Report:

• Escapes at Historic Low demonstrating significant progress in ensuring containment.

• Lowest Carbon Footprint - Canadian farm-raised salmon has the lowest of all major farmed animal species, reinforcing the industry's commitment to environmental sustainability.

• 100% Traceability of Canadian farm-raised salmon ensuring transparency and consumer confidence in the quality and origin of the product.

• A renewed commitment to reduce fish mortality, source 100% sustainable-certified fish feed, reduce stress and fish health and support the health of wild salmon populations.

Aligned with CAIA’s commitment to transparency, the Sustainability Report will be published annually, to provide multi-year performance data in the future. CAIA will continue evaluating the seven commitments using the proficiency scale (emerging, developing, proficient, extending). As the report outlines, the industry is developing in performance tracking, climate change efforts, and ocean health practices, while achieving proficient status in fish health, food security, and public reporting. Our food traceability systems are extending, ensuring full accountability from farm to fork. This report underscores our progress and dedication to advancing sustainability across operations.

"This is just the beginning," added Kennedy. "While we celebrate our achievements, we are acutely aware that there is always more work to be done. With the right regulatory environment and a commitment to innovation, we will continue to advance the sector's performance, responding to challenges and ensuring a healthy, secure, and high-quality Canadian source of food for all Canadians."

Funding for this project has been provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. For more information on CAIA’s commitments, actions, and targets, please visit the Love Salmon website.

About the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA): CAIA is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. In 2022, CAIA members generated over $4.86 billion in economic activity, $1.87 billion in GDP, and employed over 16,800 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

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Media Contact:

Sheri Beaulieu

Marketing & Communications Manager

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, on behalf of Canada's seafood farmers, is pleased to share with you a copy of its letter to federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture and aquaculture in advance of their respective summer meetings. 

The letter was submitted to the ministers on July 11, 2024 and reminds that aquaculture is agriculture while calling for management changes so the aquaculture sector in Canada has a pathway forward, away from stagnation and into sustainable growth to the benefit of so many communities across Canada.  

Read Full Letter Here

We are private sector supply companies to the aquaculture sector, including companies developing “closed containment” technologies.

We are very concerned about the federal government’s objective announced today of “no more open net pens in BC coastal waters by 2029.” What has been announced today does not meet the government’s commitment to a “responsible” plan as it will negatively impact thousands of Canadians.

Our sector supports thousands of skilled BC workers, including the youngest agri-food workforce in Canada. Our workers only a few years ago were called “essential” for Canada by your government.

There are over 1000 distinct supply companies involved in BC salmon farming. Many of these also service Atlantic Canada and rely on a strong sector to grow Canadian jobs across Canada. BC’s historically largest agricultural export touches so many people’s lives: farming and food production, including food retail and service, health companies, food banks, food processors, local auto dealers, feed manufacturers, and grain growers, just to name a few.  Canadian salmon feed companies purchase close to $150 million annually from Canadian grain and protein suppliers, supporting a circular economy with the potential for significant value-added growth.

It is critical that current net pen farms remain because of the foundational supply chain infrastructure and investment ecosystem that they support. The success of introducing innovative technologies in British Columbia relies on this investment and supply ecosystem being strong, stable and predictable. The absence of certainty and clarity has already weakened capital investment. Further closures could jeopardize the viability of the current production and supply chain, which will also jeopardize industry’s investment in our technologies in British Columbia.

A responsible path will work towards improvement in the current net pen sector while also building and developing new technologies. This will take time and needs a reasonable incremental approach. This policy announced today must be revisited and we call on all British Columbians and Canadians to support us in calling for this government to choose a balanced pathway.

• Brian Bosien, General Manager, AKVA Group, St John’s, NL

• Marina Gaiga, Owner, Alberni Island Shuttle, Port Alberni, BC

• Samuel B. Cook, Owner, Albert Bay Towing Ltd., Albert Bay, BC

• Ryan Brush, General Manager, Aquatrans Distributors, Delta, BC

• Bob Courage, Sales & Service Representative, BAADER, St. John’s, NL

• Jason Collins, Sales & Technical Manager, NA, Benchmark Genetics, Portland, ME

• Joseph Starcevic, Owner, Blue Continent Transportation, Surrey, BC

• David Dzisiak, Chief Operating Officer, Botaneco, Calgary, AB

• Stephen Hall, COO, Browns Bay Packing Company, Campbell River, BC

• Jeff Scott, President and CEO, Coastal Pacific Xpress Inc., Surrey, BC

• Cody Warner, Director, Sales & Marketing, Deep Trekker, Kitchener, ON

• Nicole Blanchard, COO & Aqua Director, EVAH Corp., Montreal, QC

• Justin Henry, Owner, Henry Aquaculture Consult Inc, North Vancouver, BC

• Scott Dunn, Owner, Intercoastal Tug & Barge Services, Campbell River, BC

• John Holder, President, JLH Consulting Inc., Courtenay, BC

• Doren Anderson, General Manager, Morenot Canada, Campbell River, BC

• Amir Boloar, President and CEO, Northwest Plastics, Port Coquitlam, BC

• Michael Ness, Aquaculture Technical Support and Account Manager—Canada West, Pharmaq, Oslo, Norway

• Jamie Gaskill, CEO, Poseidon Ocean Systems, Campbell River, BC

• Suzie Read, General Manager, ScaleAQ, Campbell River, BC

• Trevor Stanley, Managing Director North America, Skretting Canada Inc., Vancouver, BC

• John Arne Breivik, General Manager, Stingray Marine Solutions AS, Oslo, Norway

• Ravi Jouhal, General Manager, Sure Cold Refrigerated Storage, Surrey, BC

• Bradley Hicks, Partner, Taplow Ventures, North Vancouver, BC

Contact:

Ryan Brush at Aquatrans Distributors

ryan.brush@aquatrans.ca

A Responsible Plan for BC Salmon Farming

Today, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture have sent a letter (see link below) to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging them to choose the responsible path to ensure a vital and world-leading British Columbia salmon farming sector.

Joint Letter: A Responsible Plan for BC Salmon Farming 

At a time of many challenges, especially regarding access to healthy, home-grown and affordable food, a top concern of Canadians, supporting the future of an innovative and modern BC salmon farming sector and its thousands of workers is the responsible pathway.

Ottawa, ON - The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) applaud the Canada’s Ocean Supercluster’s (OSC) Sustainable Seafood Call for Proposals that was launched yesterday, February 27, 2024.

The OSC indicates its seafood call for proposals is to support development and adoption of sustainable seafood in the ocean sector and provide incremental investment into sustainable seafood solutions aligned with the goals of Ambition 2035. It is worth noting that Ambition 2035 was informed by the Blue Economy joint vision by FCC and CAIA which aspires Canada to be in the top 3 best quality and sustainable seafood producers by 2040.

Both FCC and CAIA are highlighting the innovation efforts in their respective sub-sectors. FCC published its Innovation Storyboard last fall while CAIA has recently hosted innovation showcases in Ottawa featuring emerging technologies in salmon farming.

The Sustainable Seafood 2024 call will support innovations across a broad range of sector operations and deliver new value creation opportunities for Canada’s seafood sector.

In response, FCC President, Paul Lansbergen said, “This call will advance innovations like those highlighted in our recent Innovation Storyboard. We have the longest coastline in the world. We have among the brightest minds. Now the Supercluster has a program focused on putting the two together.”

“Canadian aquaculture companies have for a long time been investing in enhancing their processes, to world-leading levels,” said Timothy Kennedy, CAIA President & CEO. He continued, “This call for proposals will encourage the development and adoption of new innovations that will continuously improve environmental performance while growing jobs, improving Canada’s food security, and ensuring healthy communities.”

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $6 billion in economic activity, $2.45 billion in GDP, and employ over 25,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Dana Bulloch, Associate, Porter O’Brien, dana@porterobrien.com

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA, sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

Ottawa, ON - The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) today released its Submission for the 2023 Pre-Budget Consultations. This is tabled just after the devastation wreaked by Storm Fiona and its aftermath, which highlights the importance of several vital requests to aid seafood farmers’ recovery. 

Early estimates are that shellfish farmers in PEI have at minimum $50M in damages. Almost all these marine farmers are small and medium-sized businesses who cannot access private insurance for crop loss and disasters, while land farmers have access to government cost-sharing programs to support them.  

“Food security and inflation are the top concerns of Canadians, and we have a massive opportunity to grow healthy, sustainable seafood in Canada through aquaculture. However, our sector growth has flatlined for two decades, in large part because of a lack of will at the federal level. An event like Fiona sets us back, but also brings to attention the lack of consistent, national programs for seafood farmers to succeed,” says Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO. 

“We appreciate the Prime Minister’s commitment of $300M for Fiona recovery, but the federal government must build the proper system of long-term supports to grow the seafood farming sector in Canada.”  

The CAIA Budget 2023 requests show the path forward. This includes:

1. That DFO focus on science and regulation and build its reputation as a world-class regulator, while responsibility for sector development and sustainable growth be formally moved to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;

2. That a pilot program for shellfish farmers for Business Risk Management (BRM) (such as crop and disaster insurance programs) must be created, as those offered to land farmers; and

3. That the federal program that oversees shellfish must be properly funded after 20 years of funding flatline. 

Canada’s seafood farming sector is poised to advance Canada’s objectives of domestic and sustainable food supply and security; reduce carbon emissions; grow employment and economic opportunity in rural, coastal and Indigenous communities; and capitalize on the opportunity to expand our blue economy. With the right policy and market signals, Canada’s sustainable aquaculture sector is ready to be a major contributor to Canada’s present and future health and wellbeing. 

About Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. CAIA members generate over $5 billion in economic activity, $2 billion in GDP, and employ over 20,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada. For more information, please visit www.aquaculture.ca.

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Sheri Beaulieu

Manager of Marketing and Communications

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Tel: 613-853-0612

Email: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

OTTAWA, ON – During its annual meeting held September 28-29, 2022, the members of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) elected new officers, two new Executive Committee members and two new Board members.

Ian Roberts, Director of Communications (Scotland, Ireland, Canada) at Mowi, will serve as the new Chair of the CAIA Board of Directors, succeeding Jennifer Woodland of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership who stepped down after almost three years and now serves as Past Chair. 

“The seafood farming community in Canada is focused and resilient. We are the seafood growth pathway for Canada with many coastal communities looking to grow sustainable foods and economic opportunities. With positive support from our communities and governments, Canada can realize this great sustainable, healthy and secure food opportunity for Canada,” says Roberts.

Outgoing Chair Jennifer Woodland says, “This sector has incredible potential for Canada. Low-carbon, innovative sustainable and secure food production, great jobs in coastal communities in all ten provinces and one territory, Indigenous partnership, economic opportunity and leadership. With deepened collaboration and united together we will continue our work to realize this sector’s great future in Canada.”

Additionally, Amédée Savoie, La Maison BeauSoleil and Cyrus Singh, k'awat'si Development Corporation were newly elected to the Executive Committee while four others were re-elected including: Joel Richardson, Cooke Aquaculture Inc. (Vice-Chair), Cyr Couturier, Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland (Treasurer), Mia Parker, Mowi Canada West (Secretary) and Linda Sams, Cermaq Canada.

CAIA President & CEO, Timothy Kennedy says, “We’re very pleased to welcome these new and returning members to our national Board of Directors and leadership. Together, they represent producers, suppliers and regional associations from across Canada – united in their passion for the sustainable growth of seafood farming.”

“In particular, I’d like to recognize Larry Johnson, President of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership and Co-Chair of the CAIA Indigenous Partners Network, and also Cyrus Singh, CEO of the K’awat’si Development Corporation. We’re very pleased to have two leaders from Indigenous-owned seafood businesses elected to the Board, and that they will lend their voices and talents to developing the national aquaculture discussion,” noted Kennedy.

  Four new CAIA Board members were also elected:

·         Larry Johnson, Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership (BC)

·         Cyrus Singh, k'awat'si Development Corporation (BC)

·         Jeff MacPherson, Atlantic Aqua Farms Ltd. (PEI)

·         Jennifer Wiper, Aquaculture Association of Canada (NB)

15 Board Members were also re-elected

·         Jamie Baker, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NL)

·         Bill Collins, Cascadia Seaweed (BC)

·         Todd Cook, Elanco Canada Limited (BC)

·         Brad Hicks, Taplow Feeds (BC)

·         Amy Jonsson, Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. (BC)

·         Rich Moccia, Aquaculture Centre, University of Guelph (ON)

·         Stephanie Quah, Cargill Canada (BC)

·         John Rose, Icy Waters Ltd. (ON/YK)

·         Tim Rundle, Creative Salmon Co. Ltd. (BC)

·         Ruth Salmon, BC Salmon Farmers Association (BC)

·         TBD, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (NS)

·         Trevor Stanley, Skretting Canada Inc. (BC)

·         RJ Taylor, Ontario Aquaculture Association (ON)

·         Peter Warris, PEI Aquaculture Alliance (PEI)

·         Brian Yip, Fanny Bay Oysters (BC)

“I’d like to specially thank our outgoing Chair, Jennifer Woodland and outgoing Treasurer, John Rose of Icy Waters Ltd, for their service to CAIA over the past number of years. These talented experts in Canada’s aquaculture landscape have been instrumental in shaping the future of this organization,” said Kennedy.

For a complete list of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, visit: https://www.aquaculture.ca/board-of-directors-index.

About Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. CAIA members generate over $5 billion in economic activity, 2 billion in GDP, and employ over 20,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada. For more information, please visit www.aquaculture.ca.

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Sheri Beaulieu

Manager of Marketing and Communications

Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Tel: 613-853-0612

Email: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca

New food campaign promotes Canadian Seafood as smart choice for healthy, everyday meals

OTTAWA, ON, May 25—The Choose Canadian Seafood Task Force, a program led by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) and The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) today announced the launch of a new, national awareness campaign aimed at encouraging consumers to choose Canadian seafood more often.

This campaign is noteworthy in light of how the pandemic and geopolitical events are impacting global food supply chains with disruptions and rising food prices.

“Only 30 per cent of seafood consumed in Canada is actually Canadian,” said Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO, CAIA. “By choosing Canadian seafood, we can enjoy a secure, sustainable, domestic food supply from our oceans that is good for you and good for the planet. It’s smart to choose Canadian Seafood.”

The Smarter Meals Out of the Blue awareness campaign launches today along with a new logo and a new website (www.ChooseSeafood.ca), which features helpful tips and family-friendly recipes. The campaign also inspires Canadians to shake up their everyday meal routines with unexpected ideas, like swapping in shrimp or fish for ‘Taco Tuesdays’.

“There are so many smart reasons to choose Canadian seafood,” said Paul Lansbergen, President, FCC. “It’s an affordable, easy, healthy, sustainable and delicious choice for any meal, any day of the week.”

In fact, Canadian seafood is a complete protein source, contains all essential amino acids for overall health, and omega-3 fatty acids for brain health. And, it’s more affordable than you think.

Canada’s seafood production is amongst the most sustainable in the world, with one of the lowest carbon footprints for proteins you can choose. Seafood is a critical future food for your health and for our planet.

This project is funded via the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund (CFSOF). You can learn more about the CFSOF here.

Visit www.ChooseSeafood.ca for more information.

About the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA)

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa to regulators, policy makers and political leaders. With a membership that reaches coast to coast to coast, comprised of finfish, shellfish and aquatic plant farmers, feed companies and suppliers, as well as regional aquaculture associations, CAIA is a passionate advocate for the quality and sustainability of farmed seafood. For more information visit: www.aquaculture.ca.

About The Fisheries Council of Canada

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans. For more information, visit: www.fisheries council.ca. 

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MEDIA: For more information or to book an interview please contact: Saskia Brussaard,

Seafood recipes, recipe photos available upon request

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian seafood industry, represented by a partnership of the national associations representing wild and farmed seafood, is urging quick action to secure affordable Canadian food, jobs in rural and coastal communities, and a domestic food supply of low-carbon, healthy seafood.

Responding to the release of the federal government’s “Blue Economy Strategy: What We Heard” report, Paul Lansbergen, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada, and Timothy Kennedy, President & CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, jointly issued the following statement: 

“Canada's wild and farmed seafood sectors represent secure, stable jobs, and are a proven, low-carbon solution to feeding Canadian families and global markets with Canadian seafood. 

“Canada's sustainable seafood sector needs the same kind of policy support that we see for our domestic agriculture sector.  We need a pragmatic, federal vision to grow the sector and drive innovation and investment in this key blue economy opportunity for rural, coastal and Indigenous communities. A rigorous, science-based approach to sustainability and a commitment to job creation and economic growth is necessary. We are happy to see some of our recommendations included in this report, such as the need for a federal champion and a growth plan with targets, but what is missing is a pathway to identify the next steps, clarify the priority areas, and focus on the economic opportunity before us. 

“Canada has the greatest potential in the world to grow our seafood sector. The seafood sector is the core of the Blue Economy with close to 100,000 jobs. Throughout the COVID period, Canadian seafood producers were identified as ‘essential workers’ and continued to deliver seafood to Canadians. Now with further global instability, we need to move quickly on this essential food opportunity and capitalize on growing the value of the sector. Our vision and action plan can help move to the next level of job creation and secure healthy and sustainable food for Canadians and the world.” 

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The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) is the voice of Canada’s wild capture fish and seafood industry, promoting a healthy resource and prosperous industry playing a vital role in the Canadian economy. Our members include small, medium and larger-sized companies along with Indigenous enterprises that harvest and process fish from Canada's three oceans.

 Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. CAIA members generate over $5.2 billion in economic activity, $2.1 billion in GDP, and employ over 21,000 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.

For more information or to set up an interview please contact:

Kelly McCarthy, Manager, Communications, FCC: kmccarthy@fisheriescouncil.org

Sheri Beaulieu, Marketing & Communications Manager, CAIA: sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca